For people looking to age more gracefully, building muscle has long been looked at as the gold standard. While retinol creams and Botox may keep those unwanted wrinkles at bay, nothing reduces your risk of serious injuries from falls, improves your posture, and ups your testosterone levels quite like hitting the weights. New research is even showing that not only are people with higher levels of muscle loss more at risk of falls and fractures, but also have a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
The study, which involved researchers at multiple Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, investigated muscle loss and dementia risk. It will be presented at this year’s Radiology Conference and Annual Meeting.
In the study, the researchers used MRI scans to measure the size of the temporalis muscle—the muscle responsible for closing your jaw. In previous research, scientists found that the size of this particular muscle correlates with sarcopenia, a condition that causes a gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function.
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“Measuring temporalis muscle size as a potential indicator for generalized skeletal muscle status offers an opportunity for skeletal muscle quantification without additional cost or burden in older adults who already have brain MRIs for any neurological condition, such as mild dementia," the study’s lead author, Kamyar Moradi, MD, said in a press release.
In the latest study, the researchers enlisted 621 participants without dementia with an average age of 77 and split them into two groups based on their MRI scans—large or small temporalis. Over the next five years, researchers followed up with all patients. They found that those with a smaller temporalis performed worse on cognitive tests, had a greater decrease in overall brain size including certain regions like the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, and therefore had an increased risk of developing dementia.
“We found that older adults with smaller skeletal muscles are about 60 percent more likely to develop dementia when adjusted for other known risk factors,” said co-senior author Marilyn Albert, Ph.D.
If you're concerned about your brain health as you age, start the intervention process early. While a muscle-building plan will vary from person to person, a good place to start is by eating adequate protein and working with a physical therapist or personal trainer who can help you get a workout plan best suited for you.
